Pump



Nov. 1, 1966 F. w. INMAN 3,282,220

PUMP

Filed Jan. 7, 1965 /5 12 Can fro/ J sfem In ('2 f 5 Out/sf /0 I hon magnet: c 8 may/7e f 95 5/6 INVENTOR Fred a). fnma/z M y ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,282,220 PUMP Fred Waldo Inman, R0. Box 266, Sierra Vista, Ariz. Filed Jan. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 424,155 1 Qiaim. (Cl. 103-53) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to a reciprocating pump driven by electrical energy pulses through the intermediary of an energy storing device, such as a spring. There is'no mechanical connection between the exterior electrical elements and the interior mechanical pumping elements. Therefore, no fluid seal is required.

In the drawing, the single figure is a longitudinal cross section through a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Pump casing 1 is substantially cylindrical and is made of a nonmagnetic material. The inlet or suction end of the cylinder is closed by a member 2 and has an inlet check valve 3 therein to prevent backflow of fluid as the pump plunger is drawn toward the inlet end of the pump. The output or pressure end of the cylinder is closed by a member 4 and may have an outlet check valve 5 therein.

Magnetizable plunger 6 may have a check valve '7 therein to permit fluid to flow through the plunger when the plunger is moved toward the inlet end of the pump and to prevent fluid flow through the plunger when it is moved toward the outlet end.

Solenoid coil 8, when energized, draws magnetizable plunger 6 toward the inlet end of the pump against the thrust of spring 9. Plunger 6 may, under certain conditions, approach the outlet end at a very rapid rate. Therefore, a buffer spring 10 may be added to absorb the energy of the fast travelling plunger and start it back to- Ward the inlet end. This conserves the energy and minimizes shock and internal damage to the pump, e.g. when the pump is racing and is pumping little or no fluid.

Power may be supplied to coil 8 from power source 11 through an electrical make-and-break system comprising points 12, a magnet 13 and magnetizable members 14, 15. Magnet 13 may be a permanent magnet or may be an electromagnet energized from power source 11 or otherwise. Switch 16 may be used to start or stop the pump.

Operation Upon startup the parts will assume the positions illustrated in the drawing. Magnetic force from magnet 13 travels through nonmagnetic pump casing 1 to magnetizable plunger 6, longitudinally through plunger 6 and back through casing 1 to magnetizable member 14. Magnetized member 14 attracts magnetizable member 15 to draw points 12 together thereby completing the circuit to coil 8.

Magnetic flux from coil 8 passes through cylinder 1 and attracts magnetizable plunger 6 toward the inlet end of the pump, compressing spring 9. Fluid trapped between plunger 6 and valve 3 is forced through the plunger and Valve 7. As magnetizable plunger 6 moves past magnetizable member 14 and magnet 13 the magnetic circuit therebetween is broken, points 12 open and coil 8 is deenergized. Valve 7 closes and spring 9 forces plunger 6 toward the outlet end to pump fluid out through valve 5. As the plunger approaches the outlet end the mag- 2 netic circuit is completed through 13, 6, 14, 15 and points 12 are closed to energize coil 8 to draw plunger 6 back toward the inlet end.

If desired, valve 5, or spring 10, or both, could be omitted. However, these parts are simple and inexpensive and they add to proper functioning of the apparatus I as explained hereinbefore.

This pump is simple and inexpensive in construction and efiicient in operation. There is no mechanical seal between the electrical driving element and the armaturepump plunger. No mechanical connections are required between the armature-pump plunger and the electrical make-and-break point set. Therefore, no fluid seal is required because no mechanically moving part projects through the pump housing. This eliminates leakage and possible fire or explosion if the fluid being pumped is gas or gasoline, as examples.

During a large percentage of the time no electrical power is required. Electrical power is used for a split second and this power is converted to potential energy stored in spring 9. That energy then stands ready to pump fluid instantly upon demand, or to pump slowly over a period of seconds, minutes or hours, or to pump fluid when called upon at a much later time, and, until that stored energy is used, no further electrical power is required.

I claim:

Pump and motor means comprising: a substantially cylindrical casing; means to close one end of said casing; fluid inlet means adjacent to said end; inlet valve means for said fluid inlet means; means to close the other end of said casing; fluid outlet means adjacent to said other end of said casing; an outlet valve for said pump and motor means; magnetizable pump plunger means in said casing; means urging said plunger means in one direction; electromagnetic means urging said plunger means in the opposite direction when energized; and means to energize said electromagnetic means when said plunger means is moved to a position toward said outlet end; said means to energize said eletromagnetic means comprising; a magnetic member adjacent to said cylindrical casing; a magnetizable member operable to close and open a circuit to said electromagnetic means; said magnetizable plunger means serving as a magnetic conductor to transmit magnetic force from said magnetic member to said magnetizable member as said plunger approaches said other end of'said casing to thereby close said circuit to said electromagnetic means and move said magnetizable pump plunger toward said one end of said casing; said magnetic member comprising an electromagnet with one end of the magnetic core adjacent to said cylindrical casing; and an additional outlet valve in the path of fluid flow past said plunger.

- References Cited by the Examiner ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner. 

